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The radioprotective property of thiol-containing compounds has been
well known for some time. Amifostine(WR-2721) is the most well known of
these agents. The proposed mechanism of action is the scavenging of
radiation-induced free radicals.

A prospective randomized study was conducted to determine
whether amifostine reduces the rate of severe esophagitis, hematologic, and
pulmonary toxicities associated with concurrent chemoradiation and/or
improves the survival of patients with inoperable NSCLC.

There was no significant difference in hematologic toxicities between
the two arms. Hypotension (20 mm Hg decrease from baseline BP) was
significantly more frequent in Arm 1 65% vs 3.0% in Arm 2 (p=0.00001).

Only one patient discontinued the treatment because of a hypotensive
episode.

Mar 3, 2015 - In a phase III clinical trial, gefitinib was superior to carboplatin-paclitaxel in extending survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, particularly those patients with epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine.